27 June 2023 , 16:56
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Bobby Osborne, the musician behind the hit tune Rocky Top, has died at the age of 91.
Bobby was best known for having part of the Osborne Brothers band alongside his younger brother Sonny Osborne, who himself passed away back in 2021, aged 83.
The band - who are known for their country music and bluegrass records - are most remembered for the song Rocky Top, which was first released by the brothers in 1967.
Tributes have been paid to late singer and mandolin player Bobby this evening following the news that he has died, with him having been described as a "great talent".
Bobby Osborne is best known for releasing bluegrass music over a decades long career (Mike Coppola/FilmMagic)
He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as part of band the Osborne Brothers in 1964 (Getty Images)One person tweeted: "Bluegrass music owes so much to this man's influence". Another said: "Farewell [Bobby]. Even as you grew older, your voice soared above the heavens".
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Sharing their tribute to the late musician, another fan wrote on the platform: "Bobby and his brother Sonny redefined what bluegrass could sound like and were innovators".
Bobby's death is said to have been confirmed to TV station WYMT - which is based in his home state Kentucky - on Tuesday afternoon. A cause of death has not been reported.
Bobby and his brother Sonny are said to have begun performing together as the Osborne Brothers in the 1950s, following the former's discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps.
The siblings are understood to have made their recording debut in 1956 and enjoyed success during the latter part of the decade with songs such as Once More.
He was later inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (Getty Images)The Osborne Brothers were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry back in 1964 and subsequently into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame three decades later in 1994.
Their song Rocky Top was adopted as a state song of Tennessee in 1982. And according to the Grand Ole Opry, their song Kentucky has been named an official song of their home state too.
Sonny is said to have retired from music in 2005, with Bobby understood to have continued to record and perform in the years since through his band Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press.
Speaking about his career with the Bluegrass Situation in 2017, Bobby said: "I never programmed myself to be all bluegrass or all country or all rock, or whatever.
He continued: "I just never did program myself any one thing, cause I could sing anything. If I wanted to sing [something], I'd find the way I'd want to do it, and I'd do it."